Adjustable handle-bar for bicycles



' (N0 Model.)

` J'. M. ERWIN.

ADJUSTABLE HANDLE'BAR FOR BIGYGLES.

10.577,805, 4Patented615.23,189%

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2, G. M Hm /W rares ATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH IWLERVIN, OE DENVER, COLORADO.

ADJUSTABLE HANDLE-BAR FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 577,805, dated February23, 1897. Application filed July 3l, 1896. Serial No. 601,276. (Nomodel.)

To all whom t may concern,-

Beit known that I, JOSEPH M. ERwIN, a

citizen of the United States of America, resid-l ing at Denver, in thecounty of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Adjustable Han- (lle-Bars for Bicycles; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable handle-bars forbicycles; and it consists of the features hereinafter described andclaimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a handle-bar providedwith my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through theadjusting devices. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 4illustrates another form of construction.

Similar reference-characters indicating corresponding parts in theviews, let the numeral 5 designate the handle-bar, whose central portion5fL is polygonal in cross section. As shown in the drawings, thiscentral part of the handle-bar is provided with seven faces of equalwidth. Hence the perimeter of its cross-section forms a regularheptagon. This central portion 0f the handle-bar is surrounded by acollar 6, whose interior perimeter describes a regular heptagon andwhose exterior perimeter describes a regular Octagon. The inner surfaceof the collar fits the part 5L of the handle-bar, and it is providedwith a slot 6a to allow it to be clamped tightly thereon and loosened atwill. The collar 6 is surrounded by a clamp 7, whose inner surface isprovided with eight equal faces, whereby it is adapted to fit theexterior surface of the interposed collar. This clamp is provided with adepending stem 7:, adapted to enter the hollow post of the front fork,(not shown,) to which it may be fastened in the usual manner. The part 7is provided with a slot 7,

which extends into the stem 7a, through which an adj listing-bolt 8 ispassed.

The collar 6 is provided with a shoulder 6, formed on one end thereofand adapted to engage a counterpart recess formed in the clamp 7, Whilethe opposite end of the part 5n of the handle-bar is provided with asimilar shoulder 5C, adapted to engage a counterpart recess formed inthe adjacent end of the collar. Hence when the clamp 7 is loosened thehandle-bar may be pulled out of the collar in one direction withoutdisturbing the collar, while a pull in the opposite vdirection movesboth the part 5a of the handle-bar and the collar from the clamp. By theuse of this improvement a very delicate adjustment may be effected. Forinstance, if it is desired to raise or lower the handles, the clamp isfirst loosened and the central portion alone of the handle-bar pulledout of the collar, as heretofore explained. The handle-bar is then givena seventh of a turn or turned one-seventh part of a revolution and againinserted in the collar. The handle-bar is then pulledin the oppositedirection and the collar drawn out of t-he clamp with it, as heretoforeexplained. The handle-bar and collar are then turned one-eighth of arevolution in the opposite direction, or inthe direction opposite theirst turn of the handle-bar, after which the collar and handle-bar arereinserted in the clamp.

Since bythe operation just described the handle-bar is turnedone-seventh of a revolution in one direction and one-eighth of arevolution in the opposite direction, the handles will be raised orlowered, as the case may be, to the extent equal to the differencebetween one-eighth and one-seventh of a turn of the handle-bar or onefifty-sixth of a revolution; hence the advantage of the collarinterposed between the clamp and the central part of the handle-bar. Ifthe collar were not used, an adjustment of this character could only beeffected by giving the central portion of the handle-bar fifty-sixfaces, and this would make it so nearly cylindrical that it could not beeasily clamped in place, and would consequently be im practicable.Moreover, by my construction it is practicable to effect a much fineradjustment than that already described. For instance, if the centralportion of the handle-bar and the interior of the collar be given eightfaces and the exterior of the collar nine faces, an adj ustment of thehandles corresponding to one seventysecond of a revolution may beeffected, and by still further increasing the number of faces of thesaid parts still finer or more delicate adjustment is practicable.

To reverse the position of the handle-bar, it is only necessary to turnthe same a half-revolution and reinsert it in the collar and then turnthe stem a half-revolution in the hollow post of the fork. By virtue ofthis adjustment the crook of the handle-bar may be either up or down, asdesired.

It must be understood that I do not limit the construction to bicyclehandle-bars, but claim it for use in all mechanical relations where itmay be found practicable.

For the purpose of obtaining better clamping results it may be desirableto form longitudinal recesses or grooves 6 at the interior angles of thecollar G and similar recesses or grooves 7 d at the corresponding anglesof the clamp 7.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 the central part of the handle-baris provided with exterior tongues 5d, adapted to engage interiorcounterpart grooves formed in the collar 6d, which is provided withexterior tongues 6g, adapted to engage counterpart grooves formed in theclamp 7g. The handlebar is provided with seven tongues and the adjacentcollar with a corresponding number of grooves. The exterior surface ofthe collar is provided with eight tongues and the clamp with aoorrespondin g number of counterpart grooves formed on its interiorsurface. Hence the same adjustment may be effected as in theconstruction shown in the other views. In effecting this adjustment thehandle-bar may be pulled out of the collar and turned one-seventh of arevolution in either direction and reinserted. It may then be pulled inthe opposite direction, removing the collar. The handle-bar and collarmay then be turned one-eighth of a revolution in the direction oppositethe first 4turn of the handle-bar, after which the handle-bar and collarare returned to their normal position. By this operation the sameadjustment is effected as heretofore explained when describing the otherform of construction. It is evident that one or more of the tongues 5dand one or more of the tongues 6g may be omitted without interferingwith the operation of the mechanism. At least one tongue 5d and onetongue 6g must, however, be employed.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is- 1. The combinationof a bar, polygonal in cross-section, a clamping-collar whose interiorand exterior perimeters describe polygons having an unequal number ofsides, the inner surface of the collar being adapted to fit the bar, anda clamp whose inner surface is adapted to fit the exterior surface ofthe collar, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a bicycle handlebar, whose central portion ispolygonal in cross-section, a slotted collar, the perimeters of whoseinner and outer surfaces describe polygons having an un equal number ofsides, and a clamp surrounding said collar, which it is adapted to fit,said clamp being provided with a depending stem adapted to connect withthe post of the bicycle-fork, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a bicycle handle-bar whose central portion isformed exteriorly polygonal in cross-section, a slotted collar whoseinterior and exterior perimeters describe polygons having an unequalnumber of sides, the inner surface of the collar being adapted to fitthe central portion of the handle-bar, said collar having grooves formedat its interior angles, a clamp surrounding said collar which the clampis adapted to fit, said clamp having grooves formed at its interiorangles and also provided with a depending stem adapted to be connectedwith the post of the fork, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a bar polygonal in cross-section, aclamping-collar whose interior and exterior perimeters describe polygonshaving an unequal number of sides, the inner surface of the collar beingadapted to fit the bar, the latter having a stop adapted to engage oneend of the collar, and a clamp whose inner surface is adapted to fit theexterior surface of the collar, the latter having a stop at the endopposite the stop on the bar, said stop being adapted to engage theadjacent end of the clamp.

5. The combination of a bar, a clamp and an interposed collar, thelatter havingits interior and exterior surfaces provided with an unequalnumber of elements or instrumentalities adapted to prevent independentrotation when engaged by surfaces having similar or counterpartelements, the bar being fashioned to t the interior surface of theinterposed collar, and the clamp adapted to iit the exterior surfacethereof.

G. The combination of a bar, a clamp and an interposed collar,the latterhaving its opposite surfaces provided with an unequal number of elementsor instrumentalities adapted to prevent independent rotation whenengaged by surfaces having similar or counterpart elements, the barbeing fashioned to fit one surface of the interposed collar, and theclamp adapted to fit the other surface thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH M. Enwnv.

Vitnesses:

ALFRED J. OBRIEN, G. J. ROLLANDET.

ICO

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